Bistable Coupling States Measured on Single Co Nanoclusters Deposited on CoO(111)
Résumé
We describe novel features of the induced magnetic anisotropy in Co nanoclusters coupled with a CoO(111) layer. Individual cluster magnetism was studied using new microbridge superconducting quantum interference devices. Intrinsically, the Co clusters are single domains with an effective anisotropy constant K-F approximate to 1.5 x 10(6) erg . cm(-3). A bistable state of the ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic coupling is revealed, with a maximum bias systematically observed along CoO[10 (1) over bar] and an interfacial coupling energy of 0.9 erg . cm(-2). The small bias observed in cluster assembly results from an averaging over the two opposite stable states.